Press Release
November 1, 2016

SEN. LEILA M. DE LIMA'S STATEMENT FOR THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS OF EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS AND SUMMARY EXECUTIONS

I, together with my mother and my siblings, shall pay today our respect to my father who passed away more than two years ago. Every year, before his hallowed grave, we light a candle and say a special prayer for his guidance and wisdom.

But this time, I shall seek his intercession on behalf of the victims of those who were killed in the government's "war against drugs." The cries and pleas of the families of the 4,737 people who perished in the government's war against drugs are too loud to ignore.

The deaths of these victims and the agonies of the families they left behind - their widows and orphans - remind us of a fundamental belief that like you, I too am my brother's keeper; I too am my sister's keeper. As Scripture tells us, let us pray for deliverance from fear and intimidation - and from the sins that plague our country.

So on this day and all the days henceforth, let us do our part to end these killings and allow the mighty stream of the rule of law and justice flow. This fight will not be easy because we are up against the idea that it is fine to kill in the name of war against drugs.

But you and I know that this kind of killings is part of the problem, and we should never lose heart. Together, we will fight to bring justice to their deaths, and the upcoming visit of the UN Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard is our chance to say out loud that we are standing our ground for justice and truth until extrajudicial killings are finally put to rest.

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